Horry County Hopes CNB Kickstarts a Turnaround

CONWAY | Jamborees mean that actual football is right around the corner.   The dog days of summer have come and gone, and Friday's CNB Kickoff Classic - one of the longest-standing and biggest jamborees in the state - has a dual purpose. The event, which takes place at Coastal Carolina University's Brooks Stadium, will not only begin lifting the curtain on the 2026 season, it will happen amid plenty of optimism that things in these parts can start to look better across the board.   Minus back-to-back seasons of above .500 ball at Loris, Carolina Forest and Myrtle Beach, the other six programs within the district enter 2026 with at least two consecutive seasons of losing records. Few would argue this hasn't been a down cycle for the biggest portion of the GSPD zone.   Friday marks a chance to get an early look at some of those nine schools (and Waccamaw, which fills out the 10-team event).   Here are 10 reasons fans should be excited about Friday night's action, many of which were mined during Tuesday's CNB news conference overlooking Brooks Stadium.   The Great Wall of Conway   Jody Jenerette loves his offensive linemen and Conway's new coach has a talented and veteran unit at his disposal this fall. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1823562' first='Tyler' last='Fetter'] and Caiden Carter lead a unit that will be trusted to keep quarterbacks [player_tooltip player_id='1399640' first='Noah' last='Legg'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820949' first='Makhai' last='Canty'] clean. The big boys will also need to blast open lanes for [player_tooltip player_id='1687637' first='Gabriel' last='Williams'] and the Tiger ground game.    Blue Jackets Back To Basics   After a three-win season, Aynor is breaking out the single-wing offense once again. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='1822633' first='Eli' last='Allen'] will be the focal point of a Blue Jacket attack that looks to chew up opponents on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1822630' first='Jose' last='Morales'] and the Aynor offensive line will have plenty of opportunities to road grate. Whenever the Blue Jackets do decide to air it out, expect tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1825028' first='Lane' last='Varnadore'] to be a popular target.   Juniors Bringing the Juice   Seventeen of Waccamaw's 30 player on the roster are seniors, but the most vital group on the roster may be its junior class. Braxton Haynes and Robbie Carrington are both options at quarterback, with Haynes also handling kicking duties, while [player_tooltip player_id='2098892' first='Xavier' last='Greggs'] could be poised for a breakout season at wide receiver and cornerback. Just for good measure, the Warriors also boast talented seniors like [player_tooltip player_id='1667256' first='Ben' last='King'] at tight end and defensive end, Mike Winters in the trenches, and RJ Rogers at linebacker and running back.   Expectations for Elijah   As a freshman, [player_tooltip player_id='1816423' first='Elijah' last='Owens'] burst onto the scene with a string of impressive performances at running back toward the end of the 2025 season. Now, the sophomore has dropped nearly 20 pounds according to coach Ben Hampton and is ready to be the key cog in the Socastee offense. Having a reliable running back should also help ease the transition for new starting quarterback Marcus Dukes and Owens should benefit from Hampton taking over positional duties of the offensive line in front of the big tailback.   From the Hardwood to the Gridiron   Green Sea Floyds only returns six players from last year's roster, but the Trojans are getting an influx of talent from their successful basketball program. Perimeter playmakers [player_tooltip player_id='1821842' first='Shakim' last='Deas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1823132' first='London' last='Mcclellan'] (pictured) should provide a spark for GSF, along with PJ Stevens who earned basketball Region Player of the Year honors. [player_tooltip player_id='1816380' first='Aaron' last='Fowler'] played all over the field as a freshman, but will be running the offense at quarterback as a sophomore. Don't forget about [player_tooltip player_id='1821843' first='Judah' last='Lee'] and his speed, which makes him one of the lower state's more dangerous players.   Signal-Caller Showdown   St. James enters the fall with four viable candidates at quarterback and each of them could see significant playing time. Sophomore Bohdi Sawyer has impressed with his athleticism, junior Cody Peterson got plenty of reps as a junior varsity quarterback last season, senior [player_tooltip player_id='1822114' first='Jake' last='Early'] brings a veteran presence, and senior Griffen Larrow was voted a team captain. Regardless of who is taking snaps, expect to see their arm and legs utilized in the Sharks' spread option attack.   Defending the Panthers' Den   Wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1672894' first='Brady' last='McDowell'] may be the big returning offensive name on Carolina Forest's roster, but a pair of defenders will be critical to the Panthers' success this season. Defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1581470' first='George' last='Handley'] is undersized for his position, but his tenacity and motor helped him wreak havoc on the interior last fall. If opposing ball carriers get past Handley, they're likely to run straight into Carolina Forest's leading tackler from last season. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1577696' first='Connor' last='Ross'] tallied 63 stops in 2025 and could increase that total this year.   Double Trouble   North Myrtle Beach has two sophomore quarterbacks competing for the starting job, but the Chiefs are in no hurry to declare a winner. [player_tooltip player_id='1816395' first='Evan' last='Barrett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1823442' first='Mason' last='Walker'] have emerged from a four-man competition as the frontrunners and will likely both see extensive playing time. Friday will likely be the first look at North Myrtle's probable platoon system, something old/new Chiefs head coach Perry Woolbright employed the last two years while he was still at Clover.   JJ's Last Ride   [player_tooltip player_id='1664545' first='JJ' last='Brown'] is one of the area's most electrifying athletes, but as it stands he won't be wowing football fans at the next level. The Myrtle Beach standout wide receiver is heading to Texas Tech next year to compete in track and field (he's a high-jump national champion at this level), meaning this is his last go-round on the gridiron. Expect new starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1672909' first='Camden' last='DeBruhl'] to look his way early and often this season. DeBruhl has the arm strength to "push the ball downfield," as coach Mickey Wilson put it Tuesday. When that happens, Brown has a length, speed and catch radius advantage over most players who will be charged with defending him.   New Look Lions   Loris lost a breathtaking 18 starters off last year's team, but the small nucleus that remains is a potent one. Home run threats [player_tooltip player_id='1422632' first='Makel' last='Stephens'] at running back and [player_tooltip player_id='1422629' first='Roderick' last='Purcha'] at wide receiver should keep the Lion offense humming, while inside linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1817499' first='Jay' last='Todd'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1881794' first='Ethan' last='Shaw'] may be the best duo in the entire state. If the new starters can acclimate quickly, the Lions could be a force again in 2026.   Five Lesser-Known Players to Watch   Henry Daniel K, Myrtle Beach   Daniel converted some big kicks as a freshman, including a game-winner. His leg strength should be most evident on kickoffs, where he's a touchback threat on every kick.   [player_tooltip player_id='1823591' first='Matthew' last='Kellner'] QB, Carolina Forest   There are worse tasks than trying to get the ball to McDowell and the rest of the Panther receiving corps. Kellner will also have [player_tooltip player_id='1823603' first='Christian' last='Bennett'] as his backfield running mate for their senior seasons, meaning there is plenty of surrounding skill talent to help him have a strong season.   Cody Peterson QB, St. James   Peterson stands out in a crowded quarterback race due to his mobility. He's flashed the capability to throw on the run throughout the preseason and can help make something out of nothing when the pocket breaks down.    [player_tooltip player_id='1821031' first='Aven' last='Price'] LB, Socastee   While Price may not get the accolades of fellow linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1821030' first='Noah' last='Slade'], coaches expect him to a be a vital part of the Braves' defense. Socastee will need the three-sport athlete to make plenty of plays if the Braves want to improve from last year's three-win record.    PJ Stephens WR, Green Sea Floyds   Stephens' basketball exploits are well known, but the 6-foot-4 target could be a favorite for Fowler and the Trojan offense. More importantly, Stephens brings confidence and an expectation to win, which is exactly what Green Sea Floyds needs on the gridiron.

CONWAY | Jamborees mean that actual football is right around the corner.